Help with ID please

[Apl100]

I saw this butterfly down on the south coast.its one I've not seen before and would like some help with ID please

[Catteraxe]

Hi,
Your butterfly is a Clouded Yellow, one of our summer visitors.
Kevin

[Apl100]

Ok thanks I've looked it up could it be a pale clouded as wings when closed weren't very yellow?

[Pete Eeles]

Hi,

It's almost impossible to distinguish Clouded Yellow, Pale Clouded Yellow and Berger's Clouded Yellow based on your photo (although Pale Clouded Yellow has a sharp angle at the apex of the wing).

What I would say is that, given that Pale and Berger's Clouded Yellow haven't been reported from the British Isles for many years (to the best of my knowledge), and given that the Clouded Yellow is an annual visitor (currently undergoing a minor migration to our shores), then this is in all probability a Clouded Yellow.

Also - photos can be misleading if the colours aren't true!

Cheers,

- Pete

[Apl100]

Thanks for your reply Pete being a novice I wasn't aware of how rare the others were! Clouded yellow it is!!